ERIC Number: EJ1392915
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2023
Pages: 16
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1057-3569
EISSN: EISSN-1521-0693
English Writing and Social Stratification in Pakistan: Exploring the Role of SES on Students' Writing
Samiullah; Haidar, Sham
Reading & Writing Quarterly, v39 n4 p318-333 2023
English writing skills are important in English language teaching due to the practice of evaluating students' academic performance in English writing both of other subjects' content knowledge and of English language itself. However, students come to high schools with baggage of varying linguistics competencies due to differential exposure to English at home and schools. Elite class students are exposed to social and linguistic capitals both in family and educational institutions, while ordinary people lack the resources to provide such exposure to their children. How such differential upbringing affect their performance in English language proficiency including English writing skills has been less focused earlier. This study explores the role of socioeconomic statuses on students' writing skills. Employing qualitative research methodology, this study elicited English writing samples of different text types from the Higher Secondary School (HSSC) level students. Along with writing tasks as sample, data were also collected through ten students' narratives and focus group discussion of five teachers. Data were analyzed inductively through coding, categories and themes. The study found that socioeconomic factors such as social capital that is environment, cultural capitals like mother and father education, reading books, watching English movies and cartoons and school contribute to the writing skills of the students. The study calls for giving more importance to the English writing skills in the English instructions.
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, English Language Learners, Writing Skills, Social Stratification, Socioeconomic Status, Secondary School Students, Social Capital, Cultural Capital, Family Characteristics, Grade 12, Family Influence, Reading Habits
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Secondary Education; Grade 12; High Schools
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Pakistan
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A